Body waste disposable article and method for making same

ABSTRACT

A body waste disposable article adapted to receive feces and/or urine discharged thereon, the article having a body fluids absorbent means above which an opening is formed by a surrounding wall partially covering the body fluids absorbent means and surrounding the opening. The article is longitudinally composed of a front end, a rear end and an intermediate region extending between these two ends. The article is configured so as to have the largest width in its intermediate region.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for making a body wastedisposable article adapted to be utilized in combination with the otherarticle such as a disposable diaper, disposable incontinent pants andthe like.

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Disclosure Gazette No. 1993-293138describes a method for forming a body-facing topsheet of a disposablediaper with an elastic opening. This topsheet is provided along aperiphery of the opening with an elastic member secured thereto in anextended state so as to describe a circular arc. According to thisdisclosure, a sheet for forming the topsheet is continuously fed and theelastic member in an extended state is fed while the elastic member isswung transversely of the sheet using traverse means so that the elasticmember may describe the circular arcs on the continuous topsheet.

[0003] The known method for forming the topsheet of the diaper with theelastic opening is disadvantageous in that, while the sheet can be fedat a relatively high speed, the speed at which the traverse means can beoperated is limited and, in consequence, an output per unit time is alsorestricted. In addition, introduction of the traverse means into theproduction line for the diaper inevitably leads to an increase of theequipment investment and therefore to a corresponding increase in themanufacturing cost of the diaper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In view of the problems as have been described above, it is anobject of the present invention to provide a simplified method formaking a body waste disposable article such as a disposable diaperhaving an elastic opening and thereby to solve the problems mentionedabove.

[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a bodywaste disposable article according to a first aspect of the presentinvention (referred to hereinafter as a,first invention), a first methodfor making this article according to a second aspect of the presentinvention (referred to hereinafter as the second invention) and a secondmethod for making this article according to a third aspect of thepresent invention (referred to hereinafter as the third invention.

[0006] The first invention relates to a body waste disposable articlehaving a body fluids absorbent means comprising a liquid-pervioustopsheet, a liquid-impervious backsheet and a liquid-absorbent coredisposed therebetween, a surrounding wall being defined by a portion ofat least one of the topsheet and the backsheet extending outward beyonda peripheral edge of a absorbent means and folded back to partiallycover a top surface of said absorbent means in proximity of theperipheral edge and thereby to leave an opening surrounded by thesurrounding wall above a central zone of the absorbent means, and thesurrounding wall being elastically stretchable and contractable along anedge of the opening.

[0007] In the article as has been described above, the first presentinvention is characterized in that the absorbent means has alongitudinal direction and a transverse direction being orthogonal tothe longitudinal direction in which the absorbent means is composed of afront end, a rear end and an intermediate region extending between thesefront and rear ends so that the absorbent means is configured to havethe largest width in the intermediate region.

[0008] The first invention includes various embodiments as hollow:

[0009] (1) The absorbent means has its width progressively enlarged fromthe front and rear ends to the intermediate region.

[0010] (2) The intermediate region has the largest width at its positiona little to the rear end.

[0011] (3) The front and rear ends are covered with the surroundingwall.

[0012] (4) The opening is provided along its edge with a belt-likeelastic member having a width of 5˜50 mm and, in the intermediateregion, the surrounding wall is bonded to the lower surface of theelastic member along its transversely middle zone so that the elasticmember and the surrounding wall present together a substantiallyT-shaped cross-section when the article is worn by a wearer.

[0013] The second invention relates to a method for making a body wastedisposable article having a body fluids absorbent means comprising aliquid-pervious topsheet, a liquid-impervious backsheet and aliquid-absorbent core disposed therebetween, a surrounding wall beingdefined by a portion of at least one of the topsheet and the backsheetextending outward beyond a peripheral edge of the absorbent means andfolded back to partially cover a top surface of the absorbent means inproximity of the peripheral edge and thereby to leave an openingsurrounded by the surrounding wall above a central zone of the absorbentmeans, and the surrounding wall being elastically stretchable andcontractable along an edge of the opening.

[0014] In the method as has been described above, the second inventionis characterized by that the method comprises the steps of:

[0015] a. covering the core with the topsheet and the backsheet whichare, in turn, bonded to each other along portions of the topsheet andthe backsheet extending outward beyond a peripheral edge of the core toobtain a laminate;

[0016] b. bonding elastic members to any one of the topsheet and thebacksheet with a rectilinear tension along transversely opposite edgesof the topsheet or the backsheet extending in parallel to each otherwith the core lying therebetween;

[0017] c. folding the laminate back onto itself with the topsheet lyinginside so that the elastic members on the side edges may be placed uponeach other;

[0018] d. bonding respective halves of the laminate, which has beenfolded back onto itself, to each other along a pair of imaginary linesintersecting the side edges and extending in parallel to each other withthe core lying therebetween; and

[0019] e. releasing the elastic members to contract after the step d.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the second invention, the elasticmembers are belt-like elastic members each being 5˜50 mm wide andsecured to the side edges along a transversely middle line of thisbelt-like elastic member. The method according to the second inventionmay further comprise a step of forming the backsheet with means used tofasten the article to a wearer's garment.

[0021] The third invention also relates to a method for making a bodywaste disposable article having a body fluids absorbent means comprisinga liquid-pervious topsheet, a liquid-impervious backsheet and aliquid-absorbent core disposed therebetween, a surrounding wall beingdefined by a portion of at least one of the topsheet and the backsheetextending outward beyond a peripheral edge of the absorbent means andfolded back to partially cover a top surface of the absorbent means inproximity of the peripheral edge and thereby to leave an openingsurrounded by the surrounding wall above a central zone of the absorbentmeans, and the surrounding wall being elastically stretchable andcontractable along an edge of the opening.

[0022] In the method as has been described above, the third invention ischaracterized by that the method comprises the steps of:

[0023] a. continuously feeding a first web for forming the topsheet anda second web for forming the backsheet in one direction, respectively;

[0024] b. continuously feeding the elastic members in the one directionand securing them with a rectilinear tension to any one of the first andsecond webs along transversely opposite side edges of the web;

[0025] c. intermittently feeding the cores in the one direction onto anyone of the first and second webs in transversely middle regions of theweb;

[0026] d. placing the first and second webs upon each other to sandwichthe cores therebetween, after the elastic members and the cores havebeen fed, and thereby to form a third web comprising these first andsecond webs, elastic members and cores;

[0027] e. folding the third web back onto itself with the first weblying inside so that the elastic members on the side edges may be placedupon each other;

[0028] f. bonding mutually facing halves of the first web making thepart of the third web, which has been folded back onto itself, to eachother in a region of the third web extending between each pair of theadjacent cores;

[0029] g. cutting the third web which has been folded onto and bonded toitself on the step f in the region extending between each pair of theadjacent cores along an imaginary line extending transversely of thethird web so that the region may partially remain on both sides of theimaginary line; and

[0030] h. releasing the elastic members to contract after the step g.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the third invention, the elasticmembers are belt-like elastic members each being 5˜50 mm wide and bondedto the side edges along a transversely middle line of the belt-likeelastic member. The method according to the third invention may furthercomprise a step of forming the second web with means used to fasten thearticle to a wearer's garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a body wastedisposable article according to the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a line II-II in FIG. 1;

[0034]FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the disposable article as attachedto a diaper cover;

[0035]FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplarily illustrating the steps for makingthe disposable article;

[0036]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another embodiment ofthe disposable article according to the present invention;

[0037]FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the disposable article of FIG. 5 asattached to the diaper cover;

[0038]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment ofthe disposable article having partially cut away;

[0039]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along a line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;

[0040]FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along a line IX-IX in FIG. 7;

[0041]FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating the steps formaking the disposable article of FIG. 5;

[0042]FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an important part of the stepsschematically illustrated by FIG. 10;

[0043]FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along a line XII-XII in FIG. 11;

[0044]FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing a specific embodimentof a web; and

[0045]FIG. 14 is a fragmentary diagram exemplarily showing a part of thesteps for making the disposable article.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0046] Details of a method for making a body waste disposable articleaccording to the present invention will be more fully understood fromthe description given hereunder with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

[0047]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a body waste disposablearticle 1 and FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along a line II-II inFIG. 1. The article 1 is adapted to receive body wastes, particularlyfeces discharged thereon and suitable for utilization in combinationwith a diaper, a diaper cover or an undergarment worn by a wearer.

[0048] The disposable article 1 comprises a liquid-pervious topsheet 2,a liquid-impervious backsheet 3 and an absorbent core 4 disposed betweenthese two sheets 2, 3. The topsheet 2 and the backsheet 3 and the core 4form a body fluids absorbent means 6. Portions of the topsheet 2 and thebacksheet 3 extending outward beyond a peripheral edge of the core 4 arefolded back upward along the peripheral edge of the core 4, after theyhave been placed upon and bonded to each other, to form a surroundingwall 7. Above the top surface of the body waste absorbent means 6 inproximity of its central zone, there is formed an opening 8 surroundedby the surrounding wall 7. The surrounding wall 7 has an elastic member12 extending in a ring-shape along a periphery of the opening 8 andsecured in an extended state to an inner surface of at least one of thetopsheet 2 and the backsheet 3. The disposable article 1 islongitudinally composed of a tapering front end 41, a tapering rear end42 and an intermediate region 43 extending between these two ends 41,42. The disposable article 1 has its width progressively enlarged fromthe front and rear ends 41, 42 toward the intermediate region 43 and isconfigured to have its largest width at a position a little to the rearend 42. The backsheet 3 constituting the absorbent means 6 is applied onits lower surface with an adhesive agent 9 and protectively covered witha release sheet 11.

[0049]FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the disposable article 1 as attachedto a diaper cover 21 having partially cut away. The diaper cover 21comprises a laminate of a topsheet 22 made of a plastic film and abacksheet 23 made of a nonwoven fabric and has a hourglass-shape. Thediaper cover 21 is longitudinally composed of a front waist region 26, arear waist region 27 and a crotch region 28 extending between these twowaist regions 26, 27. Transversely opposite side edges of the crotchregion 28 are curved inwardly of the diaper cover 21. The crotch region28 is provided along its side edges with elastic members 29 adapted tosurround a wearer's legs and these elastic members 29 are secured in anextended state to an inner surface of at least one of the topsheet 22and the backsheet 23. The disposable article 1 having the release sheet11 peeled off is detachably fastened by means of the adhesive agent 9 toan inner surface of the diaper cover 21 over its zone extending acrossthe rear waist region 27 and the crotch region 28. It is possible forthe disposable article 1 to be attached to the diaper cover 21 over itszone selected depending on a wearer's body characteristics.

[0050] The diaper cover 21 is provided on transversely opposite sideedges of the rear waist region 27 with tape fasteners 31 by means ofwhich an assembly of the disposable article 1 and the diaper cover 21 asshown in FIG. 3 and can be worn substantially in the same manner as theconventional disposable diaper is worn so that the wearer's anus may liesubstantially in a central zone of the opening 8 of the disposablearticle 1.

[0051] With the disposable article 1 utilized in the manner as has beendescribed above, feces is properly discharged into the opening 8 and thediaper cover 21 is well prevented from being soiled with feces. Fordisposable of the feces, it is unnecessary to handle the diaper cover 21of a relatively large size and only the article 1 of a relatively smallsize may be handled. Accordingly, operation of the disposable iscorrespondingly alleviated. By placing the tapering front end 41 in thecrotch region 28 when the diaper cover 21 is worn, the front end 41 issmoothly received between the wearer's legs and the disposable article 1does not give a feeling of wrongness against the wearer. The disposablearticle 1 is adequately wide in proximity of the rear end 42 and canreceive a large amount of feces. It is also possible to increase anadhesive strength of the adhesive agent so that the disposable article 1may be permanently attached to the diaper cover 21. The disposablearticle 1 can be attached also to an inner surface of the disposablediaper or undergarments, instead of being attached to the diaper cover21.

[0052]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the steps 4A-4C for making thedisposable article 1 shown in FIG. 1. On the step 4A, theliquid-pervious topsheet 2 and the liquid-impervious backsheet 4C bothhaving an inverted trapezoidal shape of an identical size are placedupon each other with the absorbent core 4 disposed therebetween in acentral zone of these two sheets 2, 3; then, the portions of these twosheets 2, 3 extending outward beyond the peripheral edge of the core 4are bonded together by means of hot melt adhesive (not shown) to form atrapezoidal laminate 40. The laminate 40 has transversely opposite sideedges 42, 42, longitudinally opposite end edges 44, 45 both extendingbetween the side edges 42, 42, wherein the end edge 44 is dimensioned tobe longer than the end edge 45. Inside the side edges 42, 42 of thelaminate 40, the elastic members 12, 12 are secured with a rectilineartension to the laminate 40 by means of hot melt adhesive (not shown). Inthis embodiment illustrated, these elastic members 12, 12 are disposedbetween the topsheet 2 and the backsheet 3 and bonded to the innersurface of at least one of the topsheet 2 and the backsheet 3. The core4 may be bonded to at least one of the topsheet 2 and the backsheet 3.As will be apparent from FIG. 4B, the adhesive agent 9 previouslyapplied on the backsheet 3 is protectively covered with the releasesheet 11.

[0053] On the step 4B, the laminate 40 is folded along a center line C-Cback onto itself with the topsheet 2 lying inside and bonded togetheralong the end edges 44, 45, both placed upon themselves as the laminate40 is folded back, respectively, by means of hot melt adhesive agents47, 48 (See the step 4B). The adhesive agent 9 having been applied onthe backsheet 3 prior to the step b is protectively covered with therelease sheet 11. It should be understood that the laminate 40 foldedback is shown in FIG. 4B as partially cut away.

[0054] On the step 4C, the elastic members 12, 12 are released tocontract. Such contraction of the elastic members 12, 12 causes theportion of the topsheet 2 and the backsheet 3 extending outward beyondthe peripheral edge of the core 4 to be bent inward along the peripheraledge of the core 4 with the topsheet 2 lying inside. The portions of thetopsheet 2 and the backsheet 3 bent inward define the surrounding wall 7which partially covers the core 4 in proximity of its peripheral edgeand leaves the opening 8 above the central zone of the core 4. Of thelaminate 40, a region in proximity of the end edge 44 forms the frontend 41 and a region in proximity of the end edge 45 forms the rear end42. In this way, the disposable article 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 isobtained, in which the respective elastic members 12, 12 describecircular arcs along the periphery of the opening 8.

[0055] The region extending between the front and rear ends 41, 42 iscurved outwardly of the disposable article 1 and a depth of thedisposable article 1 from the opening 8 to the core 4 increases as adegree of contraction exhibited by each of the elastic members 12, 12.

[0056]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternativeembodiment of the disposable article 1. In this disposable article 1, adegree at which the front end 41 is tapered is substantially the same asa degree at which the rear end 42 is tapered. Between these front andrear ends 41, 42, the intermediate region 43 has a substantially uniformwidth. As far as the cross-sectional shape is concerned, no differenceis found between these two embodiments.

[0057]FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the disposable article 1 of FIG. 5as attached to the crotch region 28 of the diaper cover 21. Thedisposable article 1 shown in FIG. 6 is characterized by that adimension between the front and rear ends 41, 42 is longer than in theembodiment shown in FIG. 3 and the opening 8 is correspondingly larger.Such an arrangement allows feces and urine to be more reliably receivedby the larger opening 8.

[0058]FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing still anotherembodiment of the disposable article 1 having partially cut away andFIGS. 8, 9 are sectional views taken along lines VIII-VIII and IX-IX inFIG. 7. According to this embodiment of the disposable article 1, theopening 8 is provided along its periphery with the belt-like elasticmembers 12, 12 being 5˜50 mm wide and forming together a loop. Each ofthe elastic members 12, 12 comprises a plurality of rubber threads 12Aput under appropriate tension and covered with a nonwoven fabric 12B.The portion of the backsheet 3 folded back inwardly of the article 1 isbonded to the elastic member 12 along its transversely middle zone. Withthe article 1 being put on a wearer's body, the elastic members 12, 12cooperate with the backsheet 3 in the intermediate region 43 extendingbetween the front and rear ends 41, 42 to lift off above the absorbentmeans, presenting a substantially T-shaped cross-section (See FIG. 8).At the same time the elastic members 12, 12 are spaced from each otherto describe an enlarged loop which is placed against a wearer's skin andreliably prevents feces and urine from leaking out beyond the peripheraledge of the article 1. In order to ensure that the elastic members 12,12 cooperate with the backsheet 3 to present the cross-section as shownin FIG. 8, it is preferred to arrange a plurality of rubber threads 12Adescribing a loop so that the stretch stress should gradually increasefrom the outermost rubber thread to the innermost rubber thread of therespective elastic members 12. In proximity of the front and rear endsof the article 1, the elastic members 12, 12 are preferably securedsubstantially over their entire width to an outer surface of thebacksheet 3 as shown in FIG. 9. The article 1 shown in FIG. 8 isdistinguished from the article 1 shown in FIG. 2 in that the portion ofthe backsheet 3 extending outward beyond the peripheral edge of the core4 and folded back is longer than the corresponding portion of thetopsheet 2. The surrounding wall 7 partially covering the body fluidsabsorbent means 6 along its peripheral edge is substantially defined bythe backsheet 3.

[0059]FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating the steps forcontinuously making the disposable article 1 shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 11is a plan view showing an important part in the side view. FIG. 10illustrates the steps g˜k with a nonwoven fabric 102 and a plastic film103 really covering a core 104 cut away in order that the absorbent core104 can be seen.

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, on the step a, a web ofliquid-impervious plastic film 103 for forming the backsheet 3 of thebody fluids absorbent means 6 is continuously fed from the left to theright as viewed in FIG. 10 (from the top to the bottom as viewed in FIG.11).

[0061] On the step b, hot melt adhesive (not shown) is discharged from afirst nozzle 131 and applied on the film 103 along its transverselyopposite side edges.

[0062] On the step c, elastic members 112 with a rectilinear tension arecontinuously fed and secured to the film 103 immediately inside itstransversely opposite side edges by means of the hot melt adhesive whichhas been applied thereon on the previous step b.

[0063] On the step d, hot melt adhesive (not shown) is discharged from asecond nozzle 132 and intermittently or continuously applied on the film103 transversely as well as longitudinally thereof.

[0064] On the step e, the absorbent cores 104 transported by a feeder134 are intermittently placed on the film 103 in its transversely middlezone in a longitudinal direction of the film 103 and bonded to the film103 by means of the hot melt adhesive which has been applied thereon onthe previous step d.

[0065] On the steps of f and g, the web of the liquid-pervious nonwovenfabric 102 for forming the topsheet 2 of the body fluids absorbent means6 is continuously fed. The nonwoven fabric 102 having a widthsubstantially the same as the width of the film 103 covers the film 103over its full width together with the cores 104 and is bonded to thefilm 103 by means of the hot melt adhesive which has been appliedthereon on the previous step d. In this manner, the web comprising thenonwoven fabric 102, the film 103 and the cores 104 is obtained.

[0066] On the step h, adhesive 136 discharged from a third nozzle 133(See FIG. 11) is applied on an upper surface of the nonwoven fabric 102so that the adhesive(136)-applied zone extends transversely across thenonwoven fabric 102 between each pair of the adjacent cores 104. Theadhesive 136 should be applied on the nonwoven fabric 102 at least overa half of its full width, i.e., over an extent defined from one of itsside edges to the center line C-C (See FIG. 11). In the caseillustrated, the adhesive 136 is applied on the nonwoven fabric 102 overits full width.

[0067] On the step i, the nonwoven fabric 102 and the film 103 placedupon each other are folded back along the center line C-C with thenonwoven fabric 102 lying inside and respective halves of the nonwovenfabric 102 are bonded together by means of the adhesive 136.

[0068] On the steps j and k, the nonwoven fabric 102 and the film 103placed upon each other is cut by a cutter 137 so that each of theadhesive(136)-applied zones may be divided in two as viewed in themachine direction to obtain the individually folded disposable articles1.

[0069] On the step 1, the disposable article 1 obtained on the previoussteps j and k is unfolded. As the article 1 is unfolded, the elasticmembers 112 are released to contract. Upon contracting of the elastic-members 112, the respective portions of the nonwoven fabric 102 and thefilm 103 extending outward beyond the peripheral edge of the core 104,placed upon and bonded to each other are curved inward along theperipheral edge of the core 104. The respective portions form thesurrounding wall 7 as shown in FIG. 5, which forms, in turn, the opening8. However, there may be a case in which the disposable article 1 issupplied to consumers without being unfolded as shown in FIG. 5 andunfolded by the consumers immediately before the article 1 is actuallyutilized. In this case, the step 1 can be eliminated.

[0070] The nonwoven fabric 102, the film 103, the core 104 and theelastic members 112 which have been used on the steps for making thedisposable article 1 are respectively destined to form the topsheet 2,the backsheet 3, the core 4 and the elastic members 12 of each finisheddisposable article 1.

[0071]FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the web obtained on the step g astaken along a line XII-XII in FIG. 11. As will be apparent from FIG. 12,the core 104 and the elastic members 112 are covered with the nonwovenfabric 102 and the film 103.

[0072]FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12, showing another embodimentof the web obtained on the step g illustrated in FIG. 11. According tothis embodiment, the side edges of the film 103 are folded back to coverthe elastic members 112, respectively. To obtain the disposable article1 according to this embodiment, the film 103 having a width larger thanthat of the nonwoven fabric 102 may be used and the steps illustrated inFIG. 10 may be added with a step of folding the side edges of the film103 as shown.

[0073]FIG. 14 is a view corresponding to the step i in FIG. 11, showingan alternative embodiment of the present invention. In the case of thisembodiment, a pair of the adhesive(136)-applied zones extend in parallelto each other between a pair of the adjacent cores 104. On thesubsequent step j, the web is cut between the pair of the adjacentadhesive(136)-applied zones. The disposable article 1 obtained in thismanner is advantageously free from an apprehension that the adhesive 136might be exposed along end surfaces given by the step j of cutting andoffensively stimulate a wearer's skin.

[0074] For exploitation of the present invention, it is also possible tobond the respective members of the disposable article 1 by using thewell known heat-sealing technique instead of using the adhesive agent sofar as the members to be bonded to each other are of heat-sealablematerials. While the adhesive 9 shown in FIG. 2 is not essential for thedisposable article 1, a step of applying the adhesive 9 may be insertedinto the course from the step b to the step h illustrated in FIG. 10, ifnecessary. It is also possible to replace the adhesive 9 by a hook orloop member making a part of the mechanical fastener which is well knownunder the trademark “VELCRO” or “MAGIC TAPE”. Specifically, the hook orloop member bonded to the backsheet 3 may be used to fasten thedisposable article 1 to an undergarment such as a diaper cover.

[0075] The body waste disposable article according to the presentinvention enables it to receive and hold feces exclusively and therebyto prevent the diaper as a whole from being soiled with feces. Thearticle is tapered toward its front end so that the article may besmoothly placed against a wearer's crotch zone.

[0076] The method according to the present invention for making the bodywaste disposable article enables it to rectilinearly feed the elasticmembers by eliminating use of the traverse means as has been essentialfor the prior art to swing the elastic members in the course ofattaching the elastic members along the periphery of the opening. In aconsequence, there is no apprehension that a productivity for thedisposable article might be adversely affected by a feeding rate of theelastic members which would be inevitably restricted by use of thetraverse means. In addition, such rectilinear manner of feeding theelastic members enables the feeding equipment to be correspondinglysimplified and thereby undesirable increase in the cost of thedisposable article due to the equipment investment can be avoided.

What is claimed is:
 1. A body waste disposable article having a bodyfluids absorbent means comprising a liquid-pervious topsheet, aliquid-impervious backsheet and a liquid-absorbent core disposedtherebetween, a surrounding wall being defined by a portion of at leastone of said topsheet and said backsheet extending outward beyond aperipheral edge of said absorbent means and folded back to partiallycover a top surface of said absorbent means in proximity of saidperipheral edge and thereby to leave an opening surrounded by saidsurrounding wall above a central zone of said absorbent means, and saidsurrounding wall being elastically stretchable and contractable along anedge of said opening, wherein: said absorbent means has a longitudinaldirection and a transverse direction being orthogonal to saidlongitudinal direction in which said absorbent means is composed of afront end, a rear end and an intermediate region extending between thefront and rear end so that said absorbent means is configured to havethe largest width in said intermediate region.
 2. The article accordingto claim 1, wherein said absorbent means has its width progressivelyenlarged from said front and rear ends to said intermediate region. 3.The article according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate region hasthe largest width at its position a little to said rear end.
 4. Thearticle according to claim 1, wherein said front and rear ends arecovered with said surrounding wall.
 5. The article according to any oneof claim 1, wherein said opening is provided along its edge with abelt-like elastic member having a width of 5˜50 mm and, in saidintermediate region, said cover sheet is bonded to a lower surface ofsaid elastic member along its transversely middle zone so that saidelastic member and said surrounding wall present together asubstantially T-shaped cross-section when said article is worn by awearer.
 6. A method for making a body waste disposable article having abody fluids absorbent means comprising a liquid-pervious topsheet, aliquid-impervious backsheet and a liquid-absorbent core disposedtherebetween, a surrounding wall being defined by a portion of at leastone of said topsheet and said backsheet extending outward beyond aperipheral edge of said absorbent means and folded back to partiallycover a top surface of said absorbent means in proximity of saidperipheral edge and thereby to leave an opening surrounded by saidsurrounding wall above a central zone of said absorbent means, and saidsurrounding wall being elastically stretchable and contractable along anedge of said opening, said method comprising the steps of: a. coveringsaid core with said topsheet and said backsheet which are, in turn,bonded to each other along their portions extending outward beyond aperipheral edge of said core to obtain a laminate; b. bonding elasticmembers to any one of said topsheet and said backsheet with arectilinear tension along transversely opposite edges of the topsheet orthe backsheet extending in parallel to each other with said core lyingtherebetween; c. folding said laminate back onto itself with saidtopsheet lying inside so that said elastic members on said side edgesmay be placed upon each other; d. bonding respective halves of saidlaminate, which have been folded back onto itself, to each other along apair imaginary lines intersecting said side edges and extending parallelto each other with said core lying therebetween; e. releasing saidelastic members to contract after said step d.
 7. The method accordingto claim 6, wherein said elastic members are belt-like elastic memberseach being 5˜50 mm wide and secured to said side edges along atransversely middle line of this belt-like elastic member.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 6, further comprising a step of forming saidbacksheet with means used to fasten said article to a wearer's garment.9. A method for making a body waste disposable article having a bodyfluids absorbent means comprising a liquid-pervious topsheet, aliquid-impervious backsheet and a liquid-absorbent core disposedtherebetween, a surrounding wall being defined by a portion of at leastone of said topsheet and said backsheet extending outward beyond aperipheral edge of said absorbent means and folded back to partiallycover a top surface of said absorbent means in proximity of saidperipheral edge and thereby to leave an opening surrounded by saidsurrounding wall above a central zone of said absorbent means, and saidsurrounding wall being elastically stretchable and contractable along anedge of said opening, said method comprising the steps of: a.continuously feeding a first web destined to form said topsheet and asecond web destined to form said backsheet in one direction,respectively; b. continuously feeding said elastic members in said onedirection and bonding them with a rectilinear tension to any one of saidfirst and second webs along transversely opposite side edges of the web;c. intermittently feeding said cores in said one direction onto any oneof said first and second webs in transversely middle regions of the web;d. placing said first and second webs upon each other to sandwich saidcores therebetween, after said elastic members and said cores have beenfed, and thereby to form a third web comprising these first and secondwebs, elastic members and cores; e. folding said third web back ontoitself with said first web lying inside so that said elastic members onsaid side edges may be placed upon each other; f. bonding mutuallyfacing halves of said first web making the part of said third web, whichhas been folded back onto itself, to each other in a region of saidthird web extending between each pair of the adjacent cores; g. cuttingsaid third web which has been folded onto and bonded to itself on saidstep f in said region extending between each pair of the adjacent coresalong an imaginary line extending transversely of said third web so thatsaid region may partially remain on both sides of said imaginary line;and h. releasing said elastic members to contract after said step g. 10.The method according to claim 9, wherein said elastic members arebelt-like elastic members each being 5˜50 mm wide and secured to saidside edges along a transversely middle line of this belt-like elasticmember.
 11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a stepof forming said second web with means used to fasten said article to awearer's garment.